I know I'm replying 5 months later but I'm wondering why your Principal has a say in how your PTO operates. It would very helpful to you to find out if you have an EIN, if you are Incorporated, or part of the school system. Where do your funds go. Are they deposited in a separate checking account from the school? All of this means that you are not a part of the school administration and own your PTO. You, the Board, prepare the by laws and can decide if you want to continue these co-positions.
I took the co- out of our by laws as soon as I could. Just as you have described, it makes for too much confusion.
I read your first posting and I asked myself, did I write this in my sleep? I have come down a bit since the last blow out, but things are not fixed on my end. I planned the "meeting with Jesus" but the pres and vp did not show up. Things are up in the air right now and I am not looking forward to the next activity that needs to be planned.
I think part of the problem besides management styles, is the fact that the roles of each one of us have not been defined. the co's try to step in where the other ones drop the ball and that is how things have worked out so far. I am not saying that they have done nothing, they have, but they are not reliable all the time.
I can't wait for the year to end. I work full time and this is taking too much of my time and energy. Next year, I will be an active volunteer and that is it.
Thank you so much for your reply. You are absolutly correct in the way we should handle this. I re-read my post and I really let it all out and probably should have held back a little. I was so stressed and frustrated when I wrote that post!
After being able to step back from PTO for about a week or so and just cool off and look at things in a new light, I am seeing that I need to back off a bit. I cannot change the way people are and if we are going to have to work together then that is what I need to do. Your suggestion of looking at their positives is something that I will do. They have been running PTO for almost 3 years now so they do have a lot of experience with the school, teachers, parents and who to contact and all that.
I can say, since our meeting with the principal the President has been more forthcoming with information about upcoming events. I like knowing the insides of the stuff, ya know?
We are going to be able to finish out the year with this setup. I am not saying we won't disagree or have different ways of doing things, but I have the best interest of the school at heart as do the others, so as long as we keep that in the front and our personal disagreements aside I think we will make it. I will not become silent but rather change approaches. If I do not agree with the issue they are discussing, before I speak or disagree I will ask myself, in the long run what will this affect? What will this do? Does it really matter if they do it "my way". I will approach all things different and see where that takes us.
I just know, that being involved in my child's school has always been something I knew I wanted to do and I am not going to ruin it now by having problems with others. I want to build a strong school with a lot of involvement and I don't think this would be the way to do it. I have to remember, my way is not always the best way, just a different way!
So, thank you for your reply and sending home what I already knew I needed to do. I hope that I will be able to learn from this and since I will be stepping up into the President position that it will make me a stronger leader for the school!
Dear Frustrated,
Having a "co" position is really setting you and your current leaders up for a tough situation. There are always different styles of leadership and someone always thinks they can do it better: ). Here are a few things you may be able to do to help the situation this year and turn your adverse situation into a productive one... If you can pull this off it will lead to years of great cooperation among those who have witnessed and been part of the current issues between the "co's" and the pres, v.p.
Ask yourself the following questions.
1. What have been the positive activities, fundraisers, etc. that the current pres. and v.p. have been able to successfully plan and run, even with their different style of leadership.
2. What skills do they have (a lot of friends, well liked by teachers & parents, good with community donations, etc.)
3. How can I acknowledge these skills/accomplishments in a manner that lets them and those around (at the meetings, etc.) know that I and others appreciate the positive things done by this group with these leaders.
4. What can I do to offer "support" to the Pres. and V.P. with my skills and not create an adverse environment.
It would probably be in your best interest to try this approach prior to having a "come to Jesus" meeting. What it will do is take the focus off of the shortcomings of those in charge right now. Once the pressure is off of them, they will be more likely to work with you and let you help with organization, planning and other facets of a successful group. I am sure they know where they are lacking (most people do), they just don't want it brought to everyone's attention in an embarassing way. By appreciating their good qualities, you will be able to help provide the parts of PTA planning that may be lacking now. In the big picture, taking their side lends you to future years of taking a tough situations and turning them into good ones.
Take the first step at being the catalyst to a good, cooperative environment. With your dedication, it should be easy and will make the year better for everyone.
I am new to PTO this year and so far it has been a headache! The co-vice-pres and I (the co-pres) were voted in during May of last year and were supposed to be mentored by the President and Vice-President. Well, that is not working. We are very organized, lists, schedules, calendars...type leaders and they are very fly by the seat of their pants leader. There is no communication unless it is the day before we should have done something and the pres e-mails to let us know. Our meetings our non-productive and long. People text or use their cell phones during meetings and it is so annoying and disrespectful. We do have an agenda but it doesn't help, they are all over the place and sometimes we leave the meeting and still haven't gotten anything accomplished. I am sorry to say that we have even had yelling matches at our meetings because they simply don't listen. They don't hear anything but what is coming out of their mouths and talk over you while you are in mid sentence.
We the co's called a meeting with the Principal and the board to discuss the Co's possibly taking over the Pres and Vice President positions and begin running meetings and events with the pres and vice pres stepping down so to speak but becoming more of a source of information if we request it. We are perfectly capable of being in charge. That didn't happen and once again we are forced to just deal with these unorganized rude leaders.
We do not get along in a leadership perspective and I fear never will. Has anyone ever dealt with Co positions in their PTO's and if so, what were the job duties, how did it work, how long did it last? I really don't know what to do and I don't want to quit but I fear that may be my only option. I have no sanity and PTO has taken over my life because it is so unorganized... We were told by the principal that this will last the whole school year and then we will find new co's at the end of the year and we will move up to Pres and Vice Pres. The next school year we will mentor the new co's... I personally do not see a need for co positions as long as you leave good notes on the projects you did, who to contact, by-laws, treasurer handbook...
I have yet to receive a copy of the by-laws or any type of job description from anyone. I went on our school computer and found the by-laws myself and printed them out, but they are from the 2007-2008 school year and have not even been updated to show the new co positions they created. In reading the by-laws they really don't go by them, just sort of do their own thing.
Help, I really don't know what to do next. Our next move will be a "Come to Jesus" meeting with only the principal and my co-vice pres where I will lay it on the line in a very blunt fashion so he gets what we have been going through... Is that a good idea? I am lost and stressed! I need advice from someone who has been dealing with PTO longer than I have....
